Hokusai Special Edition Woodblock Ao Fuji Blue Fuji

Product Description

Hokusai Special Edition Woodblock Ao Fuji Blue Fuji

“Gaifu Kaisei” (Fine Wind, Clear Morning)  commonly known as “Ao Fuji”(Blue Mt. Fuji). Ao Fuji (Aizuriban) by Katushika Hokusai (1760-1849).  From his series ‘Thirty six views of Mount Fuji’. A special limited edition of 200 individually serial numbered woodblock prints produced in 2020.  This print numbered 168 of 200.

Originally published between 1831 and 1834, today only 7 of the original woodblock prints are identified worldwide.  During 2020 in collaboration with the Mogi Honke Museum, Unsodo has created an individually serial numbered special release limited edition of 200 woodblock prints of Ao Fuji.

The limited edition was created under the supervision of Ms. Atuko Okuda of the Simida Hokusai Museum.  Reprinted by a modern master Horishi (sculptor) and Surishi (printer) with permission from Mogi Honke Museum.

On completion of the production of the limited edition woodblock prints of Ao Fuji, Unsodo donated the woodblocks to the Mogi Honke Museum

Approximate Size

Washi Paper size height 27.50 cm and width 39.50 cm (height 10.826 inches and width 15.551 inches)
Print size               height 25.50 cm and width 37.80 cm (height 10.039 inches and width 14.88 inches)

A beautifully presented, highly detailed woodblock print embellished by very fine gauffrage embossing (harazuri).

Shipping is via Australia Post with insurance, tracking and signature on delivery.

36 Views of Mount Fuji is the best known of Hokusai’s print series and is also considered his best work. Although called “36 views”, it actually consists of 46 designs. The artist worked on this series for nearly ten years before it’s publication in circa 1830.

Hokusai Katsushika – 1760-1849

Hokusai began as an apprentice at a woodcut print workshop at age 15.  At 18 he became a pupil of Katsukawa Shunsho and took the name of Katsukawa Shunro. The early Hokusai prints were mainly portraits of actors and produced under the influence of Shunsho.  He remained with Katsukawa Shunsho for 14 years and during that period he also studied with Yusen from the Kano school.

An Ukiyo-e Workaholic

Hokusai had a driving passion for producing woodblock prints.  He used the art name Gakyo-rojin, from 1834-1849 which also means old man mad with painting.

He wrote in his autobiography about himself:

“From the age of five I have had a mania for sketching the forms of things.  From about the age of fifty I produced a number of designs, yet of all I drew prior to the age of seventy there is truly nothing of great note. At the age of seventy-two I finally apprehended something of the true quality of birds, animals, insects, fish and of the vital nature of grasses and trees. Therefore, at eighty I shall have made some progress, at ninety I shall have penetrated even further the deeper meaning of things, at one hundred I shall have become truly marvelous, and at one hundred and ten, each dot, each line shall surely possess a life of its own. I only beg that gentlemen of sufficiently long life take care to note the truth of my words.”

Hokusai was also one of the most prolific of all ukiyo-e artists producing more than 30,000 print designs in his lifetime.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokusai

“Gaifu Kaisei” (Fine Wind, Clear Morning), Ao Fuji (Blue Mt. Fuji)  This is “Aizuri” (Indigo blue version), commonly known as “Ao fuji”(Blue Mt. Fuji).